Auto Suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. Use up arrow (for mozilla firefox browser alt+up arrow) and down arrow (for mozilla firefox browser alt+down arrow) to review and enter to select.

Stolen Kisses: A Blushing Bay Novel

NOOK Book(eBook)

Overview

The irresistible Sawyer brothers of Blushing Bay, North Carolina, are back in this enchanting novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Forbidden Kisses and the Hero’s Welcome series.

Krista Nelson loves being a pediatric nurse. What she doesn’t love is her demanding boss and stressful workload. Fortunately, Krista knows she can count on a waterfront happy hour every Wednesday with her childhood best friend, Noah Sawyer, the one part of her life she never wants to change. But, like it or not, things are changing—because Krista can’t stop wondering what would happen if she grabbed Noah by the collar and kissed him like it was her job.

Bored of the superficial women he’s been dating, Noah’s putting his love life on hold so he can focus on his family’s high-end fishing business. Sure, there are moments when he’s tempted by Krista’s soft lips and killer smile—but her friendship is too important to Noah. How could he let himself jeopardize everything they share? The trouble is, if he doesn’t take the real risk of opening his heart, Noah might just let the perfect catch get away.

Product Details

About the Author

Annie Rains is a USA Today bestselling author who writes small-town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America’s largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s spending time with her husband and three children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Noah and Krista, best friends since they met at a young age. Then one stolen kiss changed everything. Are they willing to risk their friendship for the possibility of more? It's a little scary for both of them.
This was a very well written story. The emotions pulled me in. And there were plenty of emotional moments. I love stories where the characters are able to learn and realize several things about themselves and their lives over and above the HEA. I'm enjoying this series and can't wait for Sam and Abby to get their lives figured out!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Loved it!

Jennann3

More than 1 year ago

Krista Nelson has always loved Noah Sawyer. They grew up together as best friends, nothing more. Krista, a pediatric RN, loves her job but wants more in life. Krista dreams of a man who loves her more than anything, having kids, and a home. Krista realizes she wants all of these things with Noah, but knows Noah will be nothing but a playboy. Tired of seeing Noah out with numerous bimbos, Krista decides to take control of her life and give dating a try.
Noah, the youngest of the Sawyer brothers, was voted the "Least Likely to Succeed". He was the jokester of the family, never wanting to put down roots. Noah grew up never knowing a mom's love and having a family connection as his mom died while giving birth to him. Noah has vowed to live his life as a single, carefree guy. Until Krista starts dating....Noah does NOT like Krista dating. He realizes he wants to be the one to make her laugh and possibly fulfill her dreams, but he's afraid once they cross the line there's no return. Noah's not sure he's willing to risk losing his best friend for something as unpredictable as love...
I truly enjoyed reading about the youngest Sawyer brother. Noah's struggle with commitment probably stems from the loss of his mom and not bonding with her. It's easy to relate to his character's use of comedy to deflect his true feelings of guilt, thinking he's responsible for his mom's death. I loved how Noah was always there for Krista--during her kidney transplant, helping make her patient's dreams come true, and encouraging her to become Charge RN. This is an AWESOME best friend's to more story!!! I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.

Bette313

More than 1 year ago

Stolen Kisses is the second book in the Blushing Bay series from this author. Each book is easily read standalone but I think you will enjoy them more if read in order. The characters are all intertwined in the stories. This is Krista and Noah's story and its a wonderful friends to lovers story. They've been best friends their entire lives although Krista has secretly been in love with Noah the whole time. When she finally decides to give up and try and find someone else suddenly Noah starts looking at her differently. Will they risk their friendship to explore what could be something amazing or will they continue to let it hold them back?
A very well done story that you don't want to miss. I highly recommend it.

belllla

More than 1 year ago

3.75stars
Stolen kisses is best friends to lover story. Krista and Noah are a best friend since they were kids but they both are hiding their attraction toward each other until one drunken night and getaway weekend. And so their friendship become more but it will be enough. Both Krista and Noah are well developed. I really liked Noah although he was so easy going person he has strong character. He is also a person who is afraid and who is searching for confirmation that he has worth. And it comes from his brother, job, and Krista. Krista, I didn't t love her, she was an ok character but it really bothered me her way of acting and thinking. Yes, she was a great nurse but you don't do the thing she did. I m the nurse too but I would never bring the job in my personal life especially not the patient and their family. And the way she dismissed Noah so cowardice move. I like how Noah came to conclusion why did he came home and who, what is the true reason.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

etoile1996

More than 1 year ago

noah and krista have been friends forever. and both of them have been in love with the other one since forever too. of course noah is a commitment-phobe with issues and of course he can't admit that. so instead he freaks out when krista kisses him when she's had too much to drink one night.
stolen kisses spends a bit of time laying the groundwork for how they each believed the other person had completely friend-zoned them, and the back and forth from krista's perspective who is actively pining for noah and wants him so desperately and believes that he does not see her that way at all, to noah's where he totally thinks krista is hot and she's the only girl he wants to be around in his life even if he can't admit it and is afraid that krista is finally ready to move on.
the best-friends-to-lovers trope follows some pretty standard plot points. and they get hit here. once krista and noah finally given in to the building sexual tension it's a relief, and the only thing that might have improved the story would have been to have them actually behave like rational adults and talk to each other about their doubts and worries. because when krista freaks out about noah over a conversation where she overheard second-hand information and immediately assumes the worst and then proceeds to freeze him out, i kind of wanted to kill her. i hate when characters don't communicate with each other for no good reason.
in the end, this is a solid entry in the blushing bay series. i have high hopes for abby and sam's story, it looks like maybe fireworks and a second-chance-at-love story that is ready to go, although there's also a lot of freezing out happening just in stolen kisses, so who knows?
**stolen kisses will publish on october 10, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/random house publishing group (loveswept) in exchange for my honest review.

BananaTricky

More than 1 year ago

Krista Nelson is a paediatric nurse. Her best friend Noah Sawyer is the captain of a fishing boat for his family's seafood business. Krista is a homebody, she can't wait to get married, start a family and get a house with a white picket fence. She'd like that to be with Noah but she knows he hates commitment, heck he even lives on a houseboat because he can't commit to living in a house on solid ground.
But one night after one too many beers in the local pub, after Noah escorts Krista home she kisses him - and suddenly friends doesn't seem enough any more.
I'll be honest, I feel like the Grinch at the moment, this is two books in two days by authors I like that I just feel meh. I couldn't like Krista, she was just too nice, too one-dimensional. In fact, I think I would say that Noah was a bit one-dimensional as well. I'm not really a fan of women whose sole reason for living seems to be getting married and having babies and I found Krista's attitude towards her boss Karen and the potential promotion a bit contradictory. Finally, and this is possibly a first, I both found that there was too much sex but also a feeling of fade to black every time they got to the bedroom.
Maybe my downer is because I wanted Sam and Abby's story, I don't know.
I would classify this as a low angst, sweet but with some sex, friends to lovers romance. I just didn't feel that it brought anything new to the genre, I'd read it all before.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

ljtljtljt

More than 1 year ago

If you are in the mood for a nicely written story about best friends that end up as lovers, then Stolen Kisses by Annie Rains is for you. This is the second book from the author's Blushing Bay series and it can be enjoyed as a standalone. However, you may want to read Forbidden Kisses, book one in this wonderful series, because it adds some background to the present happenings.
Krista Nelson and Noah Sawyer have been best friends since childhood. In addition to Krista's family, it was Noah who sat by her bedside when she received a kidney transplant at the tender age of ten. They share a special bond that neither wants to ruin with a sexual relationship. Krista's time in the hospital led her to become a very kind pediatric nurse. Noah is a commercial fisherman, following in the footsteps of his brothers, father and grandfather. He recently became captain of his own boat, the Summerly.
Krista has always been in love with Noah, yet she never felt comfortable doing anything about it for fear of losing their friendship. Noah is finally at a place in his life where dating random women is no longer appealing. He begins to notice Krista in a more romantic way, when she kisses him after indulging in a libation or two. A weekend together brings their feelings to the forefront, which spills over into their everyday lives. Luckily, true love prevails in the midst of some unexpected snags.
This story is all about how Krista and Noah evolve their platonic friendship into a loving and forever relationship. I was able to connect with both characters easily and their romantic chemistry was off the charts. The secondary characters were fun and interesting, and I am hopeful that a couple of them will get their own book soon. Overall, this is an exciting and slightly emotional read that twists and turns in all the right places.
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Laura_F

More than 1 year ago

Noah and Krista have been best friends for their whole lives. He views her as one of the guys and she's been in love with him for as long as she can remember. Her love for him makes sure none of her relationships work and his fear of commitment makes sure he never crosses the line of friendship between them.
Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes because of the slow burn that usually comes along with it. There is no insta-love. There careful thought and consideration that goes into whether or not a relationship is worth it. Noah has been told by a lot of people that he either won't succeed or isn't the best man for the job which has shaped how he views himself in relationships. The consummate screw up shouldn't risk his life long friendship for something that surely will not work out. Krista is the complete package: smart, loving, successful, and beautiful. Her decision to stop waiting around is what pushes their relationship from strictly friends to so much more.
I love every visit to Blushing Bay. This series is sweet, romantic, and engaging. I read this story in one sitting because I wanted to know everything that was going to happen. I was curious about Noah and Krista's relationship from Forbidden Kisses and already pulling for them before their story even started. I can't wait to see what's up next for the Sawyer family!!
*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Mgrabeel

More than 1 year ago

Krista Nelson loves her job and is surrounded by the best friends anyone could ask for. As a nurse, she gives herself freely to her patients, probably a little too much if you ask her boss. Her best friend is like none other but she can't help but be a little irked when he shows up with a date at their weekly get-together.
Noah Sawyer is trying his best to keep his family's business successful. He has been a man without a purpose until recently and being the youngest, feels he has a lot to prove. He can't understand why he's grown dissatisfied with all of the women he keeps finding himself dating. He has no interest in any long-term commitment but he is perplexed by his somewhat sudden attraction to his best friend.
This is the 2nd book in this series and can be read as a standalone though there are some references and characters that were explored more in the previous book.
The plot of this book was well thought out and the story kept my interest piqued. The characters were well developed and I thoroughly enjoyed picking up with the others where the previous book left off. The conflict for these characters was real and explained very well.
I would recommend this book to a friend and I personally am looking forward to the next book in the series. I am greatly enjoying this author's works.

BooksAndSpoons

More than 1 year ago

Stolen Kisses is one of the books I have been waiting all summer to come on the top of the TBR list. I adore the author's voice, the compelling characters she creates that I want to spend time with, and the heartfelt moments as they fall helplessly in love. Krista and Noah intrigued my mind in the first book of the series, and I was anxious to read their story, to learn more about them and the relationship that has built over their lifetimes.
I loved the imagery the author created around her home state of North Caroline. From the beaches to the mountains all the scenes open up in my mind's eyes, it was easy to see the events unfold.
I loved Noah, he was easy to like and his attitude towards life was wholesome. As the youngest brother in a family, he is used to being hassled. Some of the doubting thoughts are lingering in his mind about not finding his way, not being responsible enough, not measuring compared to his brothers, just in general people finding him lacking in character. His best friend Krista has always been on his side, and to keep that status quo, it is important for him to hide and bury any thoughts of attraction towards her.
Krista had loved her best friend Noah nearly all her life. Through thick and thin they always stood side by side, being there to support each other. Krista wants to get married and build a family but is convinced Noah is not ready or mature enough for that kind of commitment and goes on a date with a co-worker.
I had a little hard time liking Krista, even though I tried so hard to see the positive side of her, and there are many positives: she is a caretaker, she is kind, a good friend, and loves to laugh, etc.. It seems like she does not trust Noah completely, and thus her attitude toward him is a little patronizing at times. She also jumps into conclusions based on her doubts about Noah's character, and instead of communicating and talking about the doubts and concerns she acts upon them.
I wish they would have learned to communicate better with each other, on a deeper level. It might be that my expectations of them were high because of the close relationship they had for so long.
The chemistry is amazing, and the connection they have is tangible, the conflict between them isn't a major deal, and the angst isn't high. The physical aspect of their relationship was filled with steaming hot scenes that faded away leaving something for the imagination, as well. I loved all that, as well as the close-knit relationship the group of friends and family have with each other.
Despite my momentary doubts about Krista and her actions, the author pulls all the strings back together into a very satisfying ending that left me once again highly anticipating the next novel in the series.
A delightful and luscious romance story of the best friends fumbling in love. A story with a dash of tender feelings and gentle growth of the characters, as they find their places in life, engaged my emotions, and had me smiling and sighing oh so deeply at the end... Excellent entertaining!
~ Four Spoons

micharch

More than 1 year ago

Krista and Noah have been best friends since they were little. She knows that Noah has always seen her as another one of the guys and Krista is tired of it. She has been in love with Noah most of her life and wants him to see her as more. When Noah shows up to their weekly Wednesday Wing Night with a date, Krista knows she needs to get her life together. Noah is clueless and finally figures out that Krista was upset by his bringing someone else to their night out. Krista is also gunning for a promotion at work and feels entitled to it since she has been there the longest and knows more than the other nurses.
Noah has never wanted to be tied down and makes no bones about it. He even lives on a houseboat so as to be able to move on a whim. He is now the skipper of his own boat and spends his days on the water bringing in fish and supporting his family business. Noah knows that he hasn't always been someone people count on, but he has changed and is miffed when no one seems to notice.
Noah and Krista have a stolen kiss that causes a shift in their relationship. Krista knows that Noah does not have the same life goals as she does - a home, marriage and babies. When these two do decide to try out a relationship, Krista spent most of the time waiting for Noah to screw up. She was a bit full of herself and kind of whiny throughout this book. Noah didn't need to step up and be the man of her dreams just because that's what she was looking for. Instead of asking him, Krista treats him like a child, makes decisions on his behalf and then proceeds to dictate what she thinks is right for him. I didn't care for that and found her to be in need of a good wake-up call by someone in her life. She was definitely a caring person, but that didn't make her perfect by any means. The fact that she viewed a baby as an instant blessing without a regard to whether or not Noah was ready was telling to me. She needed to grow up and realize that in order for a relationship to work, both partners need to talk and both of their dreams need to be addressed. She didn't seem to grasp that throughout almost all of this book and I was kind of disappointed in that. The ending was nice. You will need to read the book to see how it all plays out.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

SarahBethL

More than 1 year ago

This is the 2nd book in the Blushing Bay series. This story focuses on pediatric nurse Krista Nelson & Noah Sawyer, who are best friends & have been best friends since childhood.
Noah is a fisherman, working for his family's seafood business. He is content to be a bachelor but Krista is a homebody, she wants to be married & have a family. Krista knows Noah doesn't do commitment, he lives on a houseboat because he can't even commit to having a house. One night after many drinks Noah drives Krista home & she kisses him. That started getting Noah thinking of Krista as something other than one of the boys.
It was also nice to catch up with Jack & Grace as well as Abby & Sam while they planned the wedding for Jack & Grace. It was also fun to see Krista's brother (and roommate) who drives a cab in Blushing Bay. I loved the story & could not put it down.

Lelim0612

More than 1 year ago

First, THANK YOU Random House Publishing - Loveswept for the gifted ARC copy of Stolen Kisses by Annie Rains. I loved every word!
This was phenomenal heavy but lighthearted, emotional read. LOTS of romance, and hot in the steam department.
I fell in love with the characters Krista and Noah from the very beginning, and kept falling until the very last page. Then, I was upset!! Why? Because the book was over and I had no more of this fabulous book to read.
I love a book when the strong, capable hero is unsure of those qualities in himself. The Noah and Krista had to work for the relationship to build. The feelings where Krista were concerned, were there for many years, however, Noah, he almost needed a skillet to hit him in the head to realize he loved Krista. I may have wanted to be the one to hit him with it.
Stolen Kisses is the second book in the Blushing Bay series, however, I have not read the first, Forbidden Kisses yet. I plan to remedy that real soon.
Ms. Rains’ writing takes the reader into the book really fast, in my opinion. I did not want it to end, the characters are just that engaging.
In my opinion, you cannot go wrong choosing this fabulous book if you like romance novels with a happy ending.
Thank you for reading my review.

ytcruz

More than 1 year ago

This is book 2 of Ms Rains series, Blushing Bay, but if like me , you haven’t read book one, rest assured this is definitely a stand alone and you will be fine.
The book centers around Noah Sawyer and Kristal Nelson. They have been best friends since childhood . Kristal has had a crush on him for years, but did not want to lose her friendship if things went further than that. Well, destiny interferes and a night when Kristal had one too many glasses of wine, Noah takes her home and they end up kissing. That was an awakening for Noah, and this leads to a fragile “friends with benefits”. Neither wants to lose the friendship. Besides, Noah has commitment issues due to past experiences he has never divulged.
It was fun and touching to see these two interact. The secondary characters, like Adam, one of Kristal’s pediatric patients, Joey, Kristal’s brother and Noah’s brothers were all interesting characters.
If you are looking for a sweet ,heartwarming story filled with family and friends, this one is for you.
I was gifted this copy by Netgalley and Loveswept.
The opinions expressed are solely my own.